Tag-stringing machine



W. G. JOPSON TAG STRINGING MACHINE '15 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 16, 1920 II LIIIIII Dec" 30, l 924.

1,521,242 w. G. JOPSO'N TAG TRINGING MACHINE Filed Aug- 16, 1920 15Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 30. 1924.

1,521,242 W. G. JOPSON TAG STRINGING MACHINE Filed Au 16 1920 15 She'eis-Sheet a Dec; 30. 1924;

1,521,242 w. G. .JOPSON TAG STRINGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16, 1920 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 30. 1924. I 1,521,242

w. G. JOPSON TAG STRINGING MACHINE Fi'ld Aug. 16, 1920 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 30. 1924. 1,521,242

' W. G. JOPSON TAG STRINGING MACHINE Filed 16, 1920 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 'nec fio 1924. 1,521,242

w. G. JOP SON TAG STRINGING MACHINE med Aug. 16,- 1920 15 Sheets-Sheet)? Dec. 30, 1.924.

W. G. JOPSON TAG STRINGING MACHINE 1920 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Aug 16 Dec. 30; 1924. 1,521,242

I w. G. JOPSON TAG STRINGING MACHINE Fild Aug. 16, 1920 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 25 3 2 9 a 57 -,ulIlJII// W. G. JOPSON TAG STRINGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16, 1920- i5 Sheets-$heet 1o 1,521,242 W.'G. JOPSON TAG STRINGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16, 1920 15 Sheets-Sheet ll WMW Dec. 30. 1924. 1,521,242

w. G. JOPSON TAG STRINGING MACHINE File g- 16, 1920 15 Sheets-Sheet 12 Dec. 30. 1924.

. 15 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed Aug. 16, 1920 Dec. 30. 1924. 1,521,242

w. e. JOPSON TAG STRINGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16 1920 Ki Sheets-Sheet 14 14/ 6 4/5336 H m lilml llltmi Dec. 30. 1924.. v 1,521,242

w. G. JOPSON TAG STRINGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16, 1920 15 Sheets-Sheet 15 E I jTj i x X I Patented Dec. 36, E924.

unrrso STATES isnzia PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. JOPSON, OF WELLESLEY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO JOPSON MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- OHUSETTS.

TAG-STBINGING MACHINE.

Application filed August 16, 1920. Serial No. 403,920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM G. JorsoN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Nellesley, in the county of Norfolk and State ofMass'achusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tag Stringing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to machines for stringing tags; and its object, broadly speaking, is to produce a machine by which the strings may be automatically threaded into the tags.

The ordinary tag of commerce is usually provided at one end with a single aperture and with reinforcing annulze encircling the aperture on both faces of the tag. So constructed, the commercial tags cannot easily be stacked, and one of the great difficulties that has been experienced in an attempt to produce a commercial tag-stringing machine has been due to the fact that the tags have been constructed as thus briefly described, making it practically impossible to secure an accurate feed of the tags automatically to the stringing mechanism.

Instead of employing the commercial tag with the annular reinforcement encircling a single aperture, I employ a tag having in the end thereof preferably three apertures which may be arranged at the apeXes of a triangle, and I thread the string through these apertures so that the strings form the sides of the triangle and the free ends emerge in the same direction through an aperture located near the end edge of the tag. Consequently, the tags may consist of flat strips of thick paper and be arranged in a stack or pile to facilitate thefeeding of the individual tags successively to the stringing mechanism.

In the particular machine in which the invention is illustrated as embodied I pro vide mechanism for automatically feeding the tags successively and mechanism for punching the apertures and in addition, mechanism for automatically threading the strings through the apertures of one tag before the next tag is punched. If the tag is formed of sufficiently tough stock, it needs no reinforcement, but, in order that the: string may be prevented from tearing or cutting a tag made 'of relatively thin stock, I prefer to reinforce the tag in zones this purpose, I prefer to use metallicstaples. In such case, the machine is provided with mechanism for automatically feeding, cutting and inserting the staples in the proper places in the tags. Finding that excellent results may be secured by arranging the staples at an angle to each other so that one will cross the other, I preferably employ feeding and cutting mechanism for the strips from which the staples are formed, so constructed and arranged that, when thestaples are inserted, they will be crossed as described. The machine is further provided with mechanism for automatically removing each tag from the machine after it has been punched,

stapled and strungpand depositing it at structed, arranged and correlated in their movements that, from a stack of tags placed in the front end of the machine, the tags are successively and individually fed, punched, stapled, strung and removed from the machine, all automatically and Without the intervention of human agency.

On the accompanying drawings, which, as previously indicated, illustrate but one embodiment of the invention, to the details of which the present invention is not limited,

Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the machine.

Figure 2 represents a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 represents a plan view of the machine.

Figure 4 represents, partially in section, the mechanism for punching and stapling each tag.

I b r .nutn'ely throusrhht e L 60 these parts -in- Figure 10 represents in side elevation the magazin n which the tags are stacked, :the

mechanism forfeeding the" tags-and also illustrates the end of the cross-slide which 5 carries thq punch and the staple-cutt ng and driv -n --inechanism Ft'gfii ii and'1'2 illustrate apart of the mechanism shown in- Figure .10; but in somewhat different position. (These figures also illustrate a portion of the mechanism for gripping and feeding the string, and these *iees rel engaging-the loops of string whih l j I dew" war ysoperated needles) l5 slfows in-planvieiw the string-r ahtl ifeedin'g Inechan1sm.- lFigiiifef 14 hows the same in front enemies a v p Figiu'es li filiiid 16 respectively represent seetio ris' t'alteiion the lines -15, 1'616 of flfi i gji'iie 14" looking 'in the direction of presents in plan view the m k unching and stapling the ta """adjacent mechanism, and shi iws'jt p in the position to effect the piiiitihin of the avg.

I Fi 'iii"'f1 similar View of the same 7 'j'fw w H; .1 J} partsbut shous'the cioss slice, whici car- 30 ries the punch and the staple-dr ving l rneeliar'iisiiigii irpo on to eti'ect the driving *ofiir'rb'f the if es. I sinillar View oi the same iross-shde in the )os1- or the second stap e.

in ii esents a plan View of a fiol sli'oi'vs ,hefsitring arranged across 1 t t k l tl1eta'ig""i1rpostioffto have loops thereof thrust throiigh iii'i'id h'ii the apertures 1n the represents an and elevation of iiti sh'ow's e needles in position tof'engag showing the needles in cross section and" illiiistr' a tiifg theloopstit string as 'being thrust, through two of gjr in "J izaru :1 v

Figure 23 represents a section on thelline 233- 3' 6}? Figure "2, aritVshoiVs the needles and iedoops hann'gbeeii passed through the tag; W

Fi-jg'd re 2 1 islit wie h" lifoking upwardly to thehottoni side of the die. andshows the twhffifige'ii for di emm -"rue he ii hicll -engagethe loops of string end t the string en:

1 c A Y :Fignre srae s-seems 11 'nd elevation. of the same parts (it b ing ieineinhered that 4 'j le 02". V Eig ure 26' i l e alooking frorn behe"ttth' upitartlly -td thediefiand shows the fingers in the act of drawing the free ends of t'he threadthrough tl 06 5 and of h 'j1d a5 ing two bights of tlie leops in position to e thrust'through the tag by the the apertures in the 1 be engaged by a third needle for carrying the ends of the" string; upwardly through the third aperture-in the-' ta'g;

Figure 27 represents an end elevation of the same (it beingrememhered that this view shows the; parts upside-down).-

v Figure 2 8'illust rates a plan View ojf the tag with the presser-foot for engaging it and holding it in place during the stringing operation, and alsoillustrates the members for drawing the free ends of the string through the third aperture'in theta'g';

Figure shows the? same parts" pa rt ially" in'sectioi'i. 1 Figure-3O represents a section" through what I'term the die; on the? line 30-3o of Figures 31 to 35* inclusive illustrate the which draw the free ends of the string through thetliiifd aperture in tl e"tag,Fig ures 31 and 33' showing the parts 111 planpresser-toot and the fin ers or members 7 View but in; different positions,- Figures 32;

and 34 showing the parts in side el'efv'at'ion and in different positions,- and-Figure 35 showing a section Figure 36; illustrates the mechanism for operating the driving-ram by which the pui'ieh' and the staple sets are operated-.-

Figure' 37 represents the upper end of the rain'. V i

Figures88' and 39 are detailed Views showing a' Liart of the mechanism used in feed- ,in' and riin the strin l b C! s 23 23 Figure 40 represents the mechanism for on the line ofi Figoperating the needles and" the earrierthere- Figure 43 represents a Vertical section taken throi'igh the cam shaift of the inac'h i'ne} Figures 4%" to l9 inclusive illustrate the mechanism for ai'iton'iatically removing the tag frointhe machine,Figui-e 44 representing the same in plan View, Figure 45 representing thesame' in side elevationwith the grippers in position to the free ends of the string, Figure 46 representing a side elevation with the tag in the position to be dropped, and Figures 47 48 and 49' representing the grippers.

Figure 50 shows a plan view of the-tag after the operations thereon have-Been completed. V i j Figure 51 is a detailed View showing the punch head and sets and the metallic strips from which the staples are punched. V

Figure 52 is an isometric perspective of the punch head, the sets, the stationary dies orshear blocks, and the metallic strips.

Figure 53 represents a longitudinal section through the laterally movable slide or carrier.

Figure 54 represents an isometric perspective view of the die block which cooperates with the punches and the sets.

Figure 55 is a detailed view showing the fingers which carry the loops of string forwardly so that they may be strung through the third aperture in the tag. This view shows the parts looking from beneath.

Before proceeding to describe in detail the machine which is illustrated upon the drawings, I desire to reiterate that-the machine represents but one embodiment of the invention which is capable of a variety of embodiments; that the parts, especially the cams, are shown more or less conventional ly; and that the phraseology which I employ is for the purpose of description and notof limitation.

The machine is illustrated'as being provided with a tubular bed or standard which may be of any suitable form and dimensions to support the elements in proper relation. It is provided With a bracket 101 on which is mounted a motor 102 by which power is generated to effect the operation of-the various operating instrumentalities to be described. While each machine is preferably provided with its own motor, it will be recognized that the machine may be driven, if desired, from a. countershaft. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the rotor shaft 103 of 'the motor is provided with a pinion 104; intermeshing with and drivin a gear 105 on what I term the worm shaft 106 which extends longitudinally of the machine. This shaft carries a worm 107 intermeshing with and driving the worm wheel 155011 a transversely arranged cam shaft 108. I shaft, there is located a hand wheel 109, which also serves as a momentum wheel to effecta steady rotation of the cam shaft 108. It is from the shaft 108 that all of the parts which require it receive power, and upon said shaft are mounted most all of the rotary cams which areutilized in the machine.

As I have previously stated, the tag blanks are stacked in a vertical pile, and for this purpose I employ a magazine or hopper for holding them inposition. This magazine comprises a flat table 110 provided with upright side walls 111, a front end wall 112, and a rear end wall 113. The side and front end walls are secured to the table in such manner that they are adjustable to form a vertical guideway or magazine for tags of the desired dimensions.

The rear end wall 113 is not secured direct- "1y to the table but is secured to a cross- On one projecting end of the slide, to be described, which carries upon it the punch plunger and the staple sets and cutters. F or a purpose which will be subsequently described, the table 110 is not rigidly mounted. On the contrary, it is secured by trunnions 11st in the yoke-shaped end of a bracket 115 which is secured to the front side of the standard or bed 100, as best shown in Figures 1, 2'and 10. The table has a slight tilting movement at intervals about the axis of its trunnions, will be subsequently explained in detail. Arranged in a guideway in the table so as to move longitudinally thereof, there is a feed slide which is indicated at 116 and which is utilized to feedthe bottom blanks of the pile successively to the instrumentalities which operate thereon. This feed slide has a shoulder 117 for engaging the end of the bottom blank and thrusting it forwardly when the slide is operated. The under side'of the-slideis provided with a rack 118 which is engaged by a pinion 119, journaled loosely on ashaft 120 which is secured at its ends in the yoked end of the bracket 115, as shown in Figure 1. A second rack 121 engages the pinion 119, and the end of this rack 121 rests in a guideway formed by a hooked arm 122 secured to and depending from the stud shaft 120. Thesaid rack 121 is secured to the end of a rod 123 which extends rearwardly, as shown in Figure 2, and is operatively engaged with a two-armed lever, the upwardly projecting arm of which is indicated at 12 1, as best shown in Figures 2 and a2. The end of the rod 123 is threaded and it passes loosely through a block which is pivotally secured to the arm 124i. Abutment nuts 126, 127, areplace'd on the threaded end of the rod 123 so as to allow the rod to have a limited free movement in reference to the block 125 and the lever 12-1- for a purpose to be described. Lock nuts 128, 129, are utilized to secure the abutment nuts or stops .in place. A spring is located between the stop or nut 126 and the plug 125 in order that the feed lever 124 may continue to move to a limited extent after the'feed slide has reached the end of its movement. It will be understood, of course, that each tag must tag when they have reachedfinal proper position, and it is for this reason that I locate the spring 130 between the rack'rod 123 and the cam-operated lever 124. In Figure 3, the abutment or stop for the feed slide is indicated at 181. The forward movement of the feed slide is divided into pling mechanisms, the slide remaining sta-V v groove or guideway in the table 110.

sso

two parts. That is to say, the slide is moved forwardly ,far enough to bring the tag in proper relation. to the punching and stationary during the operations thereof, and then the slide is moved to the end of its forward stroke where it remains during the time that the string is threaded through the apertures in the tag. It is not until the slide has reached the last-mentioned position that it engages the abutment 131. The lever 124 is cam-operated, its depending arm 132 being provided with a roller 133, which enters a cam groove 134 in a cam 135 mounted on the cam shaft 108. In Figure 42, the

approximate shape of the cam groove 134 is shown; and, as is there indicated, the feed slide remainsin its forward position during approximately one-third of a complete rotation of the cam shaft, whereupon it is withdrawn to its fullest extent, then fed forwardly partway where it remains a short time, and is then again fed forward toits fullest extent. I

I shall now describe the mechanism for punching thethree apertures in the tag blank, which Ihave indicated in Figure 5 as at a, b and c. A punch head or plunger is utilized, and is provided with three punches to cooperate with asuitably formed die, and this punch head, for a purpose subsequently to be explained, is mounted in a cross-slide in which are likewise mounted the staple sets.

Referring to Figures 4 to 6, and 10, the crossslide is indicated as a Whole at 136, and it is mounted to move in a transverse dove-tailed The punch head or plunger is shown in Figure 4 at 137, and it carries the threepunches 138, 139 and 140 for punching the three holes a, Z) and c in the tag blank inLsuch position that the holes a and Z) are in a line parallel to the end of the blank, andthe hole 0 is close to the edge of the blank, so that the three holes are located at the angles ofa triangle, with the apex of the triangle close to the end edge of the tag. The punch head 137 is prefer-ably triangular in cross section for a purpose to be described, and it is normally held in elevated position by a spring 141 which is located between a lug 142 at the upper end of the punch head and a projection 143 formed on the slide 136, said projection being socketed to receive the lower end of the spring. In addition to carrying the punches, the punch head performs another important function; namely, it partially cuts and it points the ends of the staples which are to be driven into the tag, The punch head is forced downwardly by what Iterm a ram. This consists of an upright bar 144 mounted in a vertical guide way 145 (see Figure 3) formed in the front side of the main standard or column, and at its upper end it. has an arm 146 which proterminate over the punch head. of the arm 146, there isfadjustably screwed ject-s rearwardlyand laterally so that it may In the end a. threaded plunger 147 which may be secure ly held by means of a set-screw 148. Then .the cross-slide is in its middle orintermediate position, -the plunger 147 is alined with the punch head 137, so that, upon the depress sion of the ram, the punch will beforc'ed downwardly, to cause the punches toperforate the tag blank. The ram is operated by a power-transmitting mechanism between it and the cam shaft 108., This mechanism is shown in Figure 36. Atthe lowerend' of the ram 144, .there is secured aQrack149 with which engages a rack segment 150 on the end of a two-armed lever 151 pivoted one stud extending into the interior of the main column, vit being understood that the lever 151 1S located 1n the interior of said.

main column or bed The lever 151 is provided with a roll 153 whichextends into a cam groove 154 formed in thezface'oft-he jwo-rm-wheel 155 with which the worm 107,

previously referred to, engages, This worm wheel rotates in the direction of the arrow,

and the cam groove 154 is so formed vthat theram is reciprocated three times in fairly that the punch head is -;approximately -triangular and that the die 156 is shaped to cooperate therewith. The die has the aper-f;

turcs 157, 158 and 159 to receivethe punches. The dieis mounted on the crossslide 136 so as to travel laterally with it, and the punch head is guided in blocks 160, 161,-

also secured to the cross head, a guideway 162 being afforded between the blocks' and:

the slide for the passage of the tag blank.

The tag blankis fed into this guidewayby the feeding mechanism previously described,

and, when in proper position, the punch head is depressed to cause the punches thereof to cooperate with the apertures, in the die plate and form the apertures a, b

and c in the tag; V

I have stated that I propose to reinforce the tag at points or zones near the apertures a and 7) by staples which are eventually crossed as shown in Figure 9. I will now describe the mechanism by which these staples are cut and formed from the strips of ductile metal. The metal strips, which are indicated at d and e, are fed laterally into the machine, as best shown in Figures 4 to 8 inclusive. Deferring for the time being the mechanism y which these strips are fed, I will describe the means by which the staples are formed at the ends of the strips and are then severed and forced into the tags. The initial cutting and bending of the ends of the staples from the strips'is accomplished by the punch head. The sides of the punch head, as shown in Figure 52, converge, and in the side faces are formed guideways 163, 164 to receive two sets 165, 166, the function of which is to sever the cross-bar of the staple from the strip and force the staple into the blank. On the cross-slide are secured. two stationary cutting dies or blades 167, 168, with which the sets 165. 166 cooperate in severing the body of the staple from the strips (Z and e. The punch head 137 is formed with cutting edges 169, 169 and 170, 170, which cooperate with the stationary blades 167, 168 to sever the strips (Z and e inwardly from their edges to form the toes or shanks a: of the staples. Inasmuch as the side faces of the punch head and the sets 165, 166 are arranged at an angle of approximately to the median lines of the metallic strips, the ends of the strips are severed diagonally, and thus the sides or toes of each staple are each provided with a point y. When the punch head descends, the cutting edges 169, 170 thereof cooperate with the stationary blades 167, 168 to cut the sides or toes of the staple and to bend them downwardly at right angles to the cross-bar or body thereof, as shown in Figures 52 and 6; When the punch head descends, the sets remain stationary and the head moves relatively thereto. Thus, on the ends of the two strips d and c, the staples are potentially formed, and they are thereafter separately completely severed from the strips and driven into the tag blank by the sets, which are operated in succession after the cross-slide on which this whole mechanism is mounted has been moved laterally into proper posi tion. The die plate or die 156, see Figure 541-, is provided with depressions 171 into which the toes of the staples are forced and which serve to curl and clinch the staples.

Each staple set is adapted to be operated by the ram which carries the plunger 147 previously described, and for this purpose the cross-slide must be adjusted or moved laterally in one direction or the other to bring the desired set under the plunger 147. The sets 165, 166'are normally held upwardly in inactive position by springs 172 (see Figure 4) which are located in sockets in the cross-slide and engage pins or projections 1172 on the said sets. Assuming that the punch head has been depressed to form the apertures a, b and 0 in the tag blank and to partially form the staples at the ends of the strips and e, the parts all being in the position shown in Figure 4.- after this has been accomplished, the CI'QSSrSlldB is then moved. t9 the right as share i? F g re by mechanism which I will subsequently describe, so as to bring the set beneath the plunger 147 on the ram. The ram is now depressed, in the manner previously described, and a staple f is driven into the tag, as shown in Figure 7, so as to lie at an angle to the end edge of the tag and immediately adjacent the aperture Z2. Then the cross slide is moved to the left into the position shown in Figure 8 so as to bring the set 166 into alinement with the plunger 147, and a staple is cut from the strip a and driven into the tag as indicated at g in Figure 9. This staple g crosses that at f and is located adjacent the aperture a. The staples, as now clinched in the tag, serve as reinforcements to prevent the string from tearing or enlarging the apertures a and b. After the set 166 has been operated, the cross-slide is moved to its central or intermediate position so that the punch head is again alined with the plunger 1 17 ready to form the apertures in the next tag which is presented. It will be understood that, as the cross-slide is moved laterally in one direction or the other, the tag blank remains laterally stationary, being held against lateral movement by the side walls of the magazine into which its rear end still extends.

The mechanism for moving the cross-slide laterally comprises a cam 173 having a peripheral cam groove 171, as shown in Figures 17 to 19 inclusive. The cross slide has a roll 175 which enters the cam groove 174, and the groove is so formed that, as the cam is rotated, the cross-slide will be moved back and forth and held in the several positions previously described. The cam 173 is mounted on a stud shaft 17 6 mounted in a bracket 177 depending from the table 110, as shown in Figure 10. A. sprocket wheel 178 is secured to the hub of the cam, as shown in Figures 17 to 19 and also in Figure 1, and this sprocket is driven by a chain 179 from a sprocket wheel 180 located at L the end of the shaft 108, which it willbe recalled is the same shaft upon which the other cams hereinbefore described are mounted. I prefer to use the chain and sprocket mechanism for driving the cam inasmuch as a flexible connection is thereby secured be tween the cam shaft 108 and the cam 173, which permits the slight movement of the table previously referred to for a purpose subsequently to be described.

I will now describe the mechanism by which the metallic staple strips d and e are fed, and reference may be had to Figures 4 to 8 and 17 to 19. These staple strips extend through guideways 180 formed in the cross slide in such position that the ends of the strips will be brought into proper relatlon to the punch head and the sets. AS the cross-slide is moved to the or the left, a e ca ma e he of urse, 

